Advocacy roles of youth in climate change mitigation in sub-Sahara Africa Introduction

 

Issues regarding the changing climate have remained a phenomenon of concern among major stakeholders most especially policy makers from all around the world. And recent events have emphatically demonstrated our growing vulnerability to climate change. Climate change impacts range from its effects on agriculture, further endangering food security, to sea-level rise and the accelerated erosion of coastal zones increasing the intensity of natural disasters, species extinction, and spread of vector-borne diseases. This issue is of immense importance for every global citizen. Hence it has risen on a scale of heightened concern from every quarter of the world and which in turn requires initiatives against it globally.

 In Africa, most especially the sub-Sahara part stands the greater risk of being the worst hit by the effect of climate change. In the regards of been a typical agrarian society which largely depends on rainfall for food production, poor governance, high level of poverty,  lack of infrastructure, adaptation  capacity and lack of awareness as a result of high illiteracy  couple with the fact that of highly congested urban areas.

Overtime the effects of the changes have been felt in the decline of food production which is as a result of erratic and unpredictable rainfall pattern, also the constant flooding in the coastal cities, increase in heat induced diseases such as malaria.

Climate change projections for Africa agree that Africa will experience a strong warming trend over the 21st century (roughly +2.0 to +4.5° C by 2100 in sub-Saharan Africa), which is expected to be stronger than the global average. Therefore for this reason, there have been quite a number of advocacy projects by government agencies, complementary effort from civil societies, Non-profit organization and most importantly youth groups.

However, it has been noticed of the fact that there have risen a number of youth networks and which as reflected a great deal of youth engaged activism in the fight against climate change. The youth seem to play a more tangible role in the advocacy projects in tune with the mitigation and adaptation strategies in the face of climate change.

Sub Saharan African now witnesses a significant increase in youth engagement in environmental issues compared to some twenty years ago.

Footprint of the roles of youths

The theme of International Youth Day, 2008, was “Youth and Climate change: Time for action.” In his address, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations said young people who are adept at spreading new habits and technologies are well placed to contribute to the fight against climate change. Mr. Ban stressed: “They (youth) are adaptable and can quickly make low-carbon lifestyles and career choices a part of their daily lives. Youth should therefore be given a chance to take an active part in the decision-making of local, national and global levels. They can actively support initiatives that will lead to the passage of far-reaching legislation. This is an extract from the UN secretary general which greatly reflects the fact that contribution of the youth his highly significant in the fight against climate change.

The evolution and the increase in the level of exposure and educational status  of the youths in sub-Saharan Africa  has risen significantly in recent times and which has allowed a reasonable participation in international processes in the like of the United Nations Framework convention on climate change . A number of youths in this wise have facilitated relationship with youth networks and related organization across the world and through this, innovations and new ideas have been generated and applied to fit in to our environment here in the sub-Sahara part of Africa.

Vivid facts are seen in the number of advocacy projects coordinated by these youths all around. Often these advocacy projects take the form of tree planting campaigns, awareness reach out to education facilities, public march and awareness creation.  

The flexibility and the tenacity of the motivated individual has  yielded quite a number of  benefits as the actions have attracted more youths  and even the governments are realizing the impacts of these youths and in some way engaged them in governmental processes and functions that would enable the their contribution.

All across the west coast of Africa, a lot of youth actions have stemmed up and there seem to be a synergy of operation in their actions. Some vivid examples are the African youth initiative on climate change which is a pan –African alliance of African youths in the fight against climate change, another example is the Nigerian Youth coalition on climate change. All of these networks have given a common voice and platform for the operation and actions of the youths.